All About the Smiles: NER Visits UMass Children’s Medical Center
We visited UMass Children's Medical Center, bringing along JB Swan's trademark blue, #81 IT7 racecar for the children and families at the hospital to enjoy.
2018 SOLO NATIONALS
Live Timing SCCA Official Facebook Updates Solo Matters Facebook Updates Almost 1400 competitors hit the Concrete Beach this week in Lincoln, Nebraska for the 2018 Solo Nationals. Follow all the action, news, highlights, and updates on the racing and how our 64 New England Region drivers are faring as they battle it out in the Game of Cones. NER Competitor Updates NER Friday Trophy Winners NER drivers added more trophies to their collection at Solo Nationals Friday evening. Here are a few of the added podium winners! 2018 Solo Nationals Championship ESPL: Becca Nell EP: Ryan Field Podium Finishes ESP: PJ Corralles - 2nd Place, Brian Mancuso - 3rd place ESP: Jojo Corrales-Kean - 2nd Place EP: Justin Chen - 3rd Place HS: Nik Finn - 3rd Place The complete list of Solo Nationals Results can be found here. Keith Casey and Brian Levesque representing NER in the SSC class. Bob Barone: Dick Berger Perseverance Award The Dick Berger Perseverance Award went to Bob Barone from the New England Region. The award recognizes someone each year who is undaunted by limited success [...]
Meet The Chair: Bob Davis, Autocross
“World class sprinters, ski racers, and Olympic swimmers train a lifetime to compete in a 10 to 60 second race. That’s autocross,” explained Bob Davis, the Autocross Chairman for the New England Region SCCA. As the Chair for the autocross speciality since 2010, he took over from Bob Lang and has dedicated the last eight years to improving novice retention, establishing a pro class, and improving operating efficiency to increase participation from 120 to 160 drivers per event. As his tenure as the Autocross Chair winds down, Bob shared what brought him to SCCA and Autocross over a decade ago, educates members on the role of the Chairman, shares advice for newcomers and those considering getting involved in autocross, and what the future holds for this form of motorsports. Bob Davis and his son Billy - Solo Nationals 2017 “World class sprinters, ski racers, and Olympic swimmers train a lifetime to compete in a 10 to 60 second race. That’s autocross." Bob, Billy, and Pam Davis celebrate Bob's 3rd place and Billy's 4th consecutive national CSP Championship at the 2017 Solo Nationals Banquet in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Keisel Guitar [...]
“Left Over Fireworks” Rally Sprint
Written By: Morris Levy One hot summer day in July, twenty-five of our finest regional competitors wanted to get some seat time before New England Forest Rally for shakedown testing. Here's how it happened. To quote a rally legend, Mr. Tim O'Neil, rally is for the "automotive adventurer." Truer words have never been spoken. Stage rally is for the automotive adventurer. Rally is challenging, and around every corner there is a new challenge (both literally, and figuratively). There is no better way to improve one's skills than practice. And practice, practice, practice they did at the NER SCCA RallySprint "Left Over Fireworks" at Team O'Neil on July 8th, 2018. Hot and Dusty It was a very dusty and hot day at Team O'Neil. Our competitors were sweaty and hot inside the cars, full race suit head to toe. During breaks, I often observed them undoing much of it to breathe a little. Everyone was encouraged to hydrate often, and filled their CamelBaks full to the brim. The fine layer of dust coated everything, and every one. As a volunteer, by the end of the day I was covered head-to-toe in a layer of fine dust and dirt created [...]
Donations Needed: 2018 Racing Against Leukemia Raffle
2018 Racing Against Leukemia It's that time of year. Since 1990, the New England Region has designed a weekend of events to show our support for families battling childhood cancers. And while enjoying our favorite motorsports activities, we also raise funds for the UMass Children's Medical Research Center. It's Racing Against Leukemia (RAL) time! Last year, NER raised $10,017 between Road Racing, Rally, and Solo events. This year, we are once again offering numerous ways our NER members can participate in RAL events while having #funwithcars. Palmer Motorsports Park will host the Road Racing and Rally events, while Solo competitors will head to Devins Airfield. Both road racing and rally events are coinciding at Palmer in a single weekend of competition, raffles, prizes and fun! Road Racing This year's RAL road racing event and annual Pig Roast is scheduled for September 8-9. REGISTER HERE! Rally Never raced a Rally before? This is your chance! The Saturday, September 8 Rally does NOT require any special license or even a SCCA membership to compete. Show up with a driver/navigator and a properly insured vehicle, and we will put you on the course. REGISTER HERE! Solo The NER Points #9 Solo event scheduled for Sunday, [...]
Flagging Life: How F&C has Changed Through the Years
Written by: Dave Rodman My, what a difference a few decades can make -- obviously in any aspect of life -- but particularly in my experience, when it comes to "flagging and communications" or "F&C" as it's known in race track shorthand. But the first thing you ought to understand -- and the coolest aspect of the game, particularly if you're reading this site -- is that the SCCA is the portal to an arena that the imagination hardly does justice to. Whether you're an SCCA member or not, checking event schedules should be easily accomplished. Whether you're interested in Club racing, performance or TSD rallying, autocross or rallycross there's an event you can attend. Finding a contact person should be as easy as finding an event. Heck, if you're stuck contact me and I'll get you pointed in the right direction. For me, being an SCCA flagger was my invitation to work events in F1, IndyCar, IMSA and NASCAR. SCCA itself opened the door to professional Formula Atlantic, Trans-Am and Can-Am. Even this week, in the aftermath of an SCCA Majors event at my home track in Thompson, Conn., came an invitation to flag a Formula E Grand Prix in [...]
Lime Rock Park Paddock Crawl
Perfect Race Weather The forecast was for picture perfect weather for the annual Paddock Crawl regional at Lime Rock park over Father's Day weekend. And the weathermen did not disappoint. While there were a few drizzles and sprinkles sporadically through the day on Friday, overall, it was the ideal setting for a great race weekend. Cooler temperatures on Friday led to sun and comfortable warmth on Saturday. With 7 groups on the schedule, more than 150 competitors showed up to compete in the NERRC Regional, a good representation from all classes. Friday was plagued by unexpected radio issues between race control and the corner stations which caused a few minor delays. But hats off to all the stewards, chiefs and workers for managing the hiccups and keeping the races running. Friday had the first Qualifying session in the morning followed by a Qualifying Sprint race in the afternoon. The best time from those two sessions would determine the grid for Saturday morning's race. Finishing position from the morning would then set the grid for the afternoon race. Race Highlights Kicking off each morning in Group 1 was our favorite Spec Racer cars. [...]
Welcome to the New Pit Talk!
Pit Talk set the standard for region communications when it first debuted almost 75 years ago. Repeatedly recognized and awarded for its coverage of region events and a way to share the stories and adventures of racers throughout the Northeast, it is with pleasure that the New England Region is now launching the next generation of this historic and classic publication. Welcome to the new PITTALK.ORG! A New Digital Format As media outlets across the country have realized, the new face of communications is digital. Traditional printed publications are on the decline as readers and viewers transition to screens and mobile devices to obtain, view, and share news. It is with this eye on the current and the future that the region made the decision to re-create everything NER members love about the traditional Pit Talk, but in a new digital format. Additionally, by utilizing a web-based platform, the editors of Pit Talk will now have greater functionality at our fingertips to offer more interactive and engaging content. From video clips to social-media sharing, the new Pit Talk is no longer limited to simply a printed page. What to Expect PitTalk.org will not be a static site. Far from [...]
SCCA – It’s a Lifestyle
"SCCA, it's a lifestyle." Ain't it the truth! Childhood is special when one never grows up, but accrues all the wisdom and experience of adulthood, tempered with a child's reverent wonder. SCCA membership can foster that. And that never-ending childhood is particularly wonderful when you can engage in a pastime as a relatively young person -- and rapturously fall in love with it... And then carry it on, and on, and on -- as long as you can walk, talk and think. SCCA can definitely enable that. And even if you get torn asunder from this passionate activity for 20 years through an inevitable passage through the harsh realities of adulthood... Only to revert back, with that patented childlike glee -- but this time truly fortified with an adult's wisdom, well, that's akin to perfection. As strange as it sounds, it's true -- because it's exactly what I've experienced. And as you might've figured, the SCCA was an integral part. Ancient history is always relevant because 1) it should've taught us lessons and 2) it's the foundation on which we currently rest. Thank God SCCA is part of my good ole days. My racing history started in 1960 at what we today [...]
